Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a prevalent disorder that affects not only the upper airways but also the intrathoracic airways. In this review, we summarize the results of studies on lung function and airway inflammation. We provide evidence that the alterations in intrathoracic airways observed in OSA are not purely consequences of mechanical trauma and oxidative stress during apneic events but have a causal role in the structural changes associated with OSA and increasing severity of this disorder.
Keywords: Airway inflammation; Lung; Lung function; Obstructive sleep apnea; Sleep.
Copyright © 2017 The Japanese Respiratory Society. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.